Winter weather threat closes schools early

The threat of snow on Friday afternoon forced all school districts in Pulaski County to dismiss early on Friday.
(By David Harten)
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The North Little Rock, Little Rock and Pulaski County Special school districts said Friday that they will dismiss classes early because of snow in the forecast for the afternoon.

North Little Rock elementary schools plan to dismiss at noon; middle schools will dismiss at 12:45 p.m.; and high schools will dismiss at 1:30 p.m., district spokesman Shara Brazear said. The district also canceled athletic and extracurricular activities for Friday and Saturday.

The following offices will close at 2 p.m.: administration, administrative annex, athletic, maintenance and food service, Brazear said.

The Little Rock School District will dismiss elementary schools at 1:15 p.m. and secondary schools at 2:30 p.m., the district said.

The Pulaski County Special district said it will let out all students one hour before their regular dismissal times.

The Little Rock and North Little Rock school districts both said Friday morning that officials were watching the weather closely and will dismiss class if the weather warrants it. The districts will update ParentLink, Facebook and Twitter with updates in that case, officials added.

I glad I don't have to make that decision. Call off school, tons of phone calls from irate parents and second-guessing all around. Or worse, let kids get stranded at school or get hurt when their bus slides into a ditch. I don't think there's a third choice.

'Big deal' is a matter of perspective. And the afterschool care was cancelled to. So, we lost an employee - with an hours notice mind you - integral to the work we had scheduled this afternoon. So yes, it is a big deal. Incidentally, I don't see any snow yet.